25 October 2013

Poppy Appeal
We will be selling poppies on behalf of The Royal British Legion with effect from Monday 4 November.

Phil the Bag, Wednesday 6 November
Don’t forget we will be having the Phil the Bag collection of unwanted clothes, shoes, bags and textiles on the Wednesday after half term. ‘Phil the Bag’ bags have already gone home, but there are more available in the School office or you can use any bin bag.

School grounds
We would like to thank Kembly (Sammy’s mum in Hazel) who has been doing the gardening in the front playground – between the downpours! After half term we are hoping to have a big bulb planting session and if anyone wants to donate spring bulbs we would be very grateful.
HSLW Coffee Morning, Monday 18 November
The next Home School Link Worker coffee and cake morning will be on Monday 18 November at 9.30, and we are pleased to invite Mark Matthews, founder of the Sunflower Trust in Guildford. Mark will talk about the wonderful work that the Sunflower Trust does providing therapy for children with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, developmental delays and many other challenges. If you would like to know more about the work of the Sunflower Trust, please follow the link www.sunflowertrust.com We hope that you can join us and look forward to seeing you! Paula and Lucy.

Lost
Rebecca Williams, Chestnut Class, has misplaced her new (named) Keller cardigan.

25 October 2013

Dates for the diary
Monday 4 November - 5HH visit The Royal Grammar School & Year 4 Roman Day
Tuesday 5 November - School Photographer (Individual Photos)
Thursday 7 November - ‘Celebrity Reptiles’ for Year 3

Secondary School Applications
The closing date for secondary applications is Thursday 31 October 2013. You can apply online for a September 2014 school place or you can obtain a paper parental preference form by emailing schoolbooklets@surreycc.gov.uk or telephone 0300 200 1015.

Coats
Would you please make sure that your child/ren come to school with a coat. Break and lunchtimes are normally spent outside and can be very cold and wet!

Medicines
May we remind parents that if you would like your child to be given any medicines, please make sure they are sent in with your child in a named packet or bottle with clear written instructions for doses. They will be kept in the office.

Cake Sale
A heartfelt ‘Thank You so Much’ from Katie Mayne (Lucy 6C), who held a cake sale in school on Wednesday, to everybody who helped to support this worthy cause. What an amazing array of stunning cakes! I think we had around 1500 cakes in total, all so beautifully made, with rainbow icing, rainbows in Smarties, multi-coloured sponge and swirls, hundreds and thousands.... just incredible! Nearly every child brought £1, enabling us to raise £361, a fantastic amount for The Rainbow Trust. Just to put this in context, this will pay for 40 hours of childcare, for tired parents, desperate for a break, or for nearly 3 months of a bereavement specialist supporting a family. Again, thank you so much.

Biathlon
Well done to all 19 of our competitors who braved the elements to compete in the biathlon at K2 Crawley. They were all so positive despite the rain and it was a great day of competition. We shall wait with interest to see the qualifying list for the nationals which takes place in the Olympic Stadium in April. Thanks to all of the parents for your great support.

Cross-country
St. Catherine's school was the venue for a super cross-country run last week. With 8 schools taking part from across Surrey it was a great competition for our girls from across the year groups. All of our runners gave their best with our Year 4 team taking bronze medals and Tilly Gough achieving a very special first place in a tactically perfect run race.

Swimming
We had a very friendly swimming fixture with Cranmore with over 20 of our boys and girls taking part. It was our closest finish with Cranmore winning 116 to 111 points. Well done to everyone involved.

Football
Our Year 4 boys enjoyed their first Football Festival this year at St. Joseph's in a great atmosphere of friendly competition which they all enjoyed.

Netball Club
Apologies, there will be no Year 6 netball club the first week back to school as we have a fixture at St. Thomas's.

Phil the Bag
Pewley Down’s bags are being collected on Wednesday 6 November. Please drop off your bags at PD if you have anything to go.

Holy Trinity School Community (HTSC) PTA News

The next big PTA event is BONFIRE NIGHT on Friday 8 November from 6-8pm. We’d love to see you there! Tickets are currently on sale at the office.

Bonfire Night – Friday, 8th November – We need your help
For this to be a great success we need help on the evening and the morning after. If you can help, even for half an hour, please contact Karen Butler email atfc1992@ntlworld.com

Christmas Fair – We need your help
Planning for the Christmas fair is underway. The raffle at the fair raises a significant amount for the school, we are looking for someone to sponsor/donate the top prize, do you know of any local businesses that may be able to? If so please contact caroline@swifts.me.uk

Lost
Lily in 6C has mislaid a purple fleece zip top (age 12/13). It has a ‘wavehunter’ logo across the bottom with Port Isaac or Polzeath on it. Please bring it to the office if you find it. Thank you.
Menu - Week 3

18 October 2013

Dear Parents,

I wonder if your job gives you some great highs and lows or whether it is a constant and consistent task which you perform. Teaching can certainly have great moments, for example when a child eventually grasps a principle in maths when the teacher has tried in five or six ways without success. A similar moment can occur in writing when somebody unexpectedly writes a piece of creative writing full of sensitivity and style. We are fortunate at HTPD that these times occur frequently and that your children put in great effort to achieve as well as they do.

There are however times of great serendipity when something happens which is such a wow moment you know that you will always remember it and want to share it with everyone. Well, I had one such event which happened this morning. I was leading nineteen boys and one girl with Helen and Sarah Jackson on a bird watching adventure. We were in Guildford’s water meadow park – behind Spectrum. There was an information board which showed various forms of wild life, I was pointing out the picture of a kestrel and telling the children its habits and features, when Marius said “stop”, followed by “look”. We raised our eyes and there was a kestrel in the sky; still with wings vibrating and tail feathers splayed and quivering. We watched it drop ten metres and hover again and then a further ten metres. Then it fell like a stone to the pasture and a mouse or vole became its mid morning snack! It was a stunning moment and everyone was amazed. I think one or two of the children wondered if somehow we had laid it on specially! It was just a great morning talking to Jonah who at just eleven has a phenomenal knowledge of British birds, of talking with Toby and Abhirup who were just so excited and happy to be really looking at birds closely. So all in all just a great time, but Marius and I will never forget our kestrel.

This week we have celebrated with Olcay Tokunaga. She was officially installed as a British citizen on Tuesday. She works as a TA in year six and always gives of her very best. We are so pleased to have her achieve this important milestone.

At Pewley Down we are continuing to have some parking issues. Please everyone try to operate to our unofficial one way system at morning and afternoon drop off/pick up time. Secondly if you could refrain from using the double yellow layby outside the school gates – you are in serious danger of getting a ticket – I did recently and also it means parents and vehicles with disabled stickers can use this rather than block the main part of the road. Thank you for your help with this.

With best regards, Richard

Please remember that school closes early next Wednesday 23 October for half term. Pewley will close at 12.00 and HT at 12.15pm. There will be no Clubs Plus at HT. School re-opens on Monday 4 November at the usual time.

Dates for the diary
Monday 4 November - 5HH visit The Royal Grammar School
Monday 4 November – Year 4 Roman Day
Tuesday 5 November – School Photographer, Individual Photos
Thursday 7 November - ‘Celebrity Reptiles’ for Year 3

Library Clubs
There will be no more library clubs until after half term, i.e. Dangerous Book Club, Board Games, Lego, History, Creative Writing or Manga.

Medicines
May we remind parents that if you would like your child to be given any medicines, please make sure they are sent in with your child in a named packet or bottle with clear written instructions for doses. They will be kept in the office.

Secondary School Applications
The closing date for secondary applications is Thursday 31 October 2013. You can apply online for a September 2014 school place or you can obtain a paper parental preference form by emailing schoolbooklets@surreycc.gov.uk or telephone 0300 200 1015.

HSLW Coffee and Cake Morning
Our next meeting will be on Monday 18 November at 9.30am and we are thrilled that Mark Matthews, founder of the Sunflower Trust in Guildford, will be joining us. Mark will talk about the wonderful work that they do at the trust. The Sunflower Trust provides therapy for children with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, developmental delays and many other challenges. If you would like to know more about the work of the Sunflower Trust, please follow the link www.sunflowertrust.com We hope that you can join us and look forward to seeing you! Paula and Lucy.

Cake Sale
Next Wednesday morning, on the last day of school, there will be a whole-school charity cake sale. We are hoping to raise as much money as possible for The Rainbow Trust, a charity that supports families with children who are terminally ill or who have life-threatening diseases. Their work is invaluable to the families who need them. With the clocks changing next week, it’s a reminder that time is precious, particularly if it is limited. With lots of friends and teachers helping to bake cakes, we hope that there should be enough fairy cakes for every child to buy 2 so please bring in at least 50p (or £1 if you are able to give a kind donation to the charity). Thank you very much indeed. Lucy Mayne (6C) and Katie Mayne.

Bright Coloured Fabrics
We need bright coloured fabrics for hat making. If you have any please pass to Terri in the Art Room. Thanks.

Operation Christmas Child – Shoe Boxes
Children at both Holy Trinity and Pewley Down were excited to hear about this year’s Shoe Box Appeal during Assemblies this week. A shoe box shows our love for a child who has very little and lives in a far off country, this year the appeal is concentrating on Kyrgestan and Ukraine. Please bring a shoe box into school, contents suitable for a boy or girl, after half term. Thank you.

Holy Trinity School Community (HTSC) PTA News

Bingo Night – a BIG Thank You
A big thank you to all the children & parents who made the Bingo Night such a success. Our fantastic caller, Jez, had everyone banging on tables, shouting ‘BOO’ VERY VERY loudly when the computer said “no” and winning some ‘top’ prizes! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped set on the night and stayed to clear up – we really could not have done it without you. We managed to raise a fantastic £455.00, which will all go towards resources for the children at school.

The next big PTA event is BONFIRE NIGHT on Friday 8 November from 6-8pm – we’d love to see you there! Tickets will be on sale from Monday 21 October. Download a ticket form here.

Bonfire Night – 8 November – We need your help
For this to be a great success we need help on the evening and the morning after. Below is a list of what help is needed.
Bonfire Building Friday daytime - 5 people
Setting up - From 4pm - 5 people
Entrance Gate - From 6pm - 4 people per half hour
BBQ - From 5pm - 5 people per half hour
Serving food - From 6pm - 4 people per half hour
Serving drinks - From 6pm - 2 people per half hour
Saturday Morning - From 9.30am approx 1hour.
If you can help even for half an hour please contact Karen Butler email atfc1992@ntlworld.com

Christmas Fair – We need your help
Planning for the Christmas fair is underway. The raffle at the fair raises a significant amount for the school, we are looking for someone to sponsor/donate the top prize, do you know of any local businesses that may be able to? If so please contact caroline@swifts.me.uk

Northbrook Wrapping
You should have received the Northbrook gift wrap brochure. We will all be buying wrapping paper for Christmas and of course we need birthday paper all year round. If everyone just bought one item through Northbrook we could raise a significant amount of money. Our school will receive 22% cash back on every item sold. As each item is £3.50 we will receive 77p for any product you buy. Please get your orders in to the school office before half term

Dates for the diary
Year 4 Drinks - Thursday 24 October at The Albany from 8.00pm
Bonfire Night – Friday 8 November
Christmas Fair - Friday 29 November

Lost: Olivia Smith in 5H has mislaid her school shoes, (black, size 4) last seen at Drama Club in the Chapel last week. If you picked the shoes up by mistake, please bring them to the office. Thank you.

Center Parcs - I have a booking at Elevedon Forest Centre Parcs for a midweek Monday 28th – Friday 2nd November 2 bedroom Woodland apartment that sadly I can no longer use due to the death of a dear friend. Under Centre Parcs terms it is too late for them to refund my booking but they have said that I am allowed to sell it privately and I can then transfer the booking to new names. It wasn’t a light purchase as any of you who knows Centre Parcs’ prices will know - £1009.00. I would like to sell it if possible for £800 and I will pay the admin fee to change the booking with Centre Parcs. Please call Liza Cheal on 07786 033131 if you are interested.

18 October 2013

Dear Parents,

I wonder if your job gives you some great highs and lows or whether it is a constant and consistent task which you perform. Teaching can certainly have great moments, for example when a child eventually grasps a principle in maths when the teacher has tried in five or six ways without success. A similar moment can occur in writing when somebody unexpectedly writes a piece of creative writing full of sensitivity and style. We are fortunate at HTPD that these times occur frequently and that your children put in great effort to achieve as well as they do.

There are however times of great serendipity when something happens which is such a wow moment you know that you will always remember it and want to share it with everyone. Well, I had one such event which happened this morning. I was leading nineteen boys and one girl with Helen and Sarah Jackson on a bird watching adventure. We were in Guildford’s water meadow park – behind Spectrum. There was an information board which showed various forms of wild life, I was pointing out the picture of a kestrel and telling the children its habits and features, when Marius said “stop”, followed by “look”. We raised our eyes and there was a kestrel in the sky; still with wings vibrating and tail feathers splayed and quivering. We watched it drop ten metres and hover again and then a further ten metres. Then it fell like a stone to the pasture and a mouse or vole became its mid morning snack! It was a stunning moment and everyone was amazed. I think one or two of the children wondered if somehow we had laid it on specially! It was just a great morning talking to Jonah who at just eleven has a phenomenal knowledge of British birds, of talking with Toby and Abhirup who were just so excited and happy to be really looking at birds closely. So all in all just a great time, but Marius and I will never forget our kestrel.

This week we have celebrated with Olcay Tokunaga. She was officially installed as a British citizen on Tuesday. She works as a TA in year six and always gives of her very best. We are so pleased to have her achieve this important milestone.

At Pewley Down we are continuing to have some parking issues. Please everyone try to operate to our unofficial one way system at morning and afternoon drop off/pick up time. Secondly if you could refrain from using the double yellow layby outside the school gates – you are in serious danger of getting a ticket – I did recently and also it means parents and vehicles with disabled stickers can use this rather than block the main part of the road. Thank you for your help with this.

With best regards, Richard

Teacher-led clubs, Tuesday 22nd
Owing to the short week, there will be no Drama or J2LYK clubs next Tuesday 22nd.

Half Term
Don’t forget that school closes early at 12.00 next Wednesday 23 October and re-opens on Monday 4 November. PUPS will run from 12.00-5.00pm on Wednesday 23rd and then at half term, 28 October to 1 November.

Operation Christmas Child
Leaflets for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal went home this week following the super assembly on Tuesday with Mungo the bear; have a look at the pictures on the website. The shoeboxes filled with small gifts are sent to children in need across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Please bring filled shoeboxes in to the school office by Friday 8 November. If you did not receive a leaflet we have more copies in the office.

Year R photo
A group photograph of the Year R children will appear in the Surrey Advertiser on 8 November.

Maths Evening
If you were unable to attend the Maths Evening this week there are copies of the booklet available at the office. Please do pick one up to find out what your child will be covering this year in school. The presentation from the evening is also now available on the website, click here.

Dogs
A reminder to parents that dogs are not allowed in the playground. Please could you also avoid leaving them tied up too near the school gates.

Yoga
Someone (possibly a Reception parent) completed the ‘How active are you?’ form and was offering to run a yoga class but unfortunately did not name the form. Please contact the office if it was you.

FOPS NEWS

The Wild Place Open Day - Sunday 20 October
We are having an autumn clear up at the Wild Place this Sunday afternoon (1pm to 4pm). At the moment, the forecast looks rather "changeable"! If it is wet, we will postpone, in which case your class reps will send out an email on Sunday morning. We have a long list of jobs to make sure the Wild Place can continue to be used through the winter so we need many pairs of helping hands. Please come along with your gardening tools (shears, pruners, strimmers, wheelbarrows) and a flask of tea! Children are welcome too but are the responsibility of their parents. The Wild place is on the far side of the allotments at the end of Pewley Hill.

Start your Christmas preparations early:

Northbrook Wrapping Papers - deadline Wednesday 23 October
There are now only a few days to get your Northbrook orders in to the office as they need to be back before half term. Northbrook's beautiful wrap & cards help the school to raise funds. They also produce very reasonable birthday cards which work out at less than 20p per card. Every item purchased at £3.50 provides 77p for the school. If you have not received a brochure & would like one please text Becca Clegg on 07796 780042 or email becca.clegg@ntlworld.com.

IQ Christmas Cards - deadline Wednesday 23 October
If you wish to order cards, labels or gift wrap in your child's design from IQ Christmas cards, please return the completed order together with the correct payment to the School Office by before half term. The school receives commission on every order. Last year we raised almost £500.

Phil the Bag Collection - Wednesday 6 November
If you are clearing out your wardrobe this half term, please donate your unwanted clothes, shoes, bags and textiles to our Phil the Bag Collection on Wednesday 6 November. The school receives commission for every kilo collected and the clothes and textiles are then sold on and distributed to people who can use and enjoy them in developing countries, which at the same time saves our environment from the burden of further resources going to landfill. There will be a "Phil the Bag" bag coming home in your child's book bag before half term. There are more available from the School Office if you would like them but any bin bag will do.

School Disco - Saturday 16 November
Back by popular demand, the Family School Disco is returning on Saturday 16 November 2013 in the School Hall. Please join us in the school hall from 5.30pm until 8pm for a boogie. A ticket application form will be coming home in your child's book bag before half term.

11 October 2013

Dear Parents,

More than two thousand five hundred years ago the Jewish song writer wrote a Psalm which included the words: “Be still and know that I am God”. I just wonder if we take time in our day to be still. I try for three times in the day and have found it can make all the difference. The first is the porridge moment, always on my own, when I mindfully seek to centre myself for the day and acknowledge what thoughts are passing through my mind. I actively still myself before continuing the morning rush.

The second is on arrival at school, I go to my desk open my diary and look at my appointments and responsibilities and pray through them all, telling God that I need his presence to help and guide me through the day and to make all my contact with children, staff, parents and visitors positive and encouraging.

Finally I just take time out at the very end of the day to sum up the day and thank God for being with me all day long.

It’s great being still and a good time to listen to your inner voice of spirit and conscience. A time to hear God’s still, small voice speaking in perhaps unexpected ways. Who or what comes into your mind, what are you going to do about it?

These thoughts came about after spending time with the prayer group last night. I do regard these people as a real “power house” of the school. They actively support the staff and parents as well as their core work of praying for all situations of challenge, change or difficulty in the school. Look out for when they meet and consider joining them, it’s not weird or a secret society, no need to pray aloud if you don’t want to. Just a chance to be still and communicate with God and hear his voice.

So here’s the challenge for your busy weekend – take some time out to be still!

With best wishes, Richard

Maths Information Evening, Tuesday 15th, 7pm in Pewley Down hall
We would like to encourage as many parents as possible to attend the maths evening next week. We will be introducing our approach to the teaching and learning of maths, a vital part of our curriculum, as well as explaining our calculation policy. There will also be time for parents to visit their child's year group, find out about Mathletics and get useful tips about supporting maths learning at home.

Fluffy Friday, 18 October
All children (including Year R) should come to school in Mufti (home clothes) next Friday and bring in a voluntary donation of £1 towards the cost of resources for the day.

How active are you?
Please complete and return the ‘How active are you?’ forms even if your child does not take part in any activities. Please also remember to name the form. We are looking for 100% participation in this important survey.

Half Term
School will close early at 12.00 on Wednesday 23 October for the inset days and half term and re-open on Monday 4 November. PUPS will run from 12.00-5.00pm on Wednesday 23rd and then at half term, 28 October to 1 November.

Next week’s lunch menu
Owing to roof building work going on over the weekend we will be providing a sandwich lunch for the children on Monday.

One way system
A reminder for new parents that we try and operate an unofficial one-way system (down Semaphore Road from Pewley Hill to Pewley Way) at drop off and pick up times in order to ease the flow of traffic. We would also ask that parents do not park on the double yellow lines and take care not to block our neighbours’ drives.

FOPS NEWS

Christmas Fair Planning Meeting - 14 October 2013 (9am)
There will be a kick off meeting for our Christmas Fair in the staff room on Monday 14 October after drop off. Everyone welcome - the more the merrier! If you are unable to make the meeting but would like to be involved with the fair, please e mail Emily Bourke (emilybourke@msn.com) who will keep you in touch with the plans. The raffle at the fair raises a significant amount for the school and we are reliant on donations from local businesses for prizes. If you know of anyone who might be able to donate a prize, please let us know.

The Wild Place Open Days - Thursday 17 October & Sunday 20 October
Your children probably tell you about their exciting visits to the Wild Place but have you ever seen it? We are inviting you to visit the Wild Place on Thursday 17 October (9am - 12pm) or Sunday 20 October (1pm to 4pm) and see it for yourself. There is a catch ..... please bring your garden shears or strimmer. We are having an autumn clear up so that our children can get the most out of this amazing resource. Many hands will make light work so bring your friends, grandparents, neighbours. If it is very wet, we will postpone. The Wild Place is at the very end of Pewley Hill on the far side of the allotments.

Start your Christmas preparations early:

Northbrook Wrapping Papers - deadline 23 October
Please remember to return any Northbrook Wrap Orders to the School Office before half term. The school receives commission on the orders and it's one job off the list!

IQ Christmas Cards - deadline Thursday 17 October
If you haven't already, you will shortly be receiving home in your child's book bag a Christmas card picture painted by your child. On the reverse is an order form. If you wish to order cards, labels or gift wrap in your child's design, please return the completed order together with the correct payment to the School Office by Thursday 17 October. The school receives commission on every order. Last year we raised almost £500.

Phil the Bag Collection - Wednesday 6 November
If you are clearing out your wardrobe this half term, please donate your unwanted clothes, shoes, bags and textiles to our Phil the Bag Collection on Wednesday 6 November. The school receives commission for every kilo collected and the clothes and textiles are then sold on and distributed to people who can use and enjoy them in developing countries, which at the same time saves our environment from the burden of further resources going to landfill.

School Disco - Saturday 16 November
Back by popular demand, the Family School Disco is returning on Saturday 16 November 2013 in the School Hall. Tickets will go on sale after half term.

For Sale
Size 11F Football Boots Clarks - Dark grey leather with red, only worn for school football on the field. Great condition, bought new from Clarks. Elastic lacing with velcro fastening. £9. Tel: 07979 600513.

Surrey Arts Open Rehearsal - Come and play with our orchestras on Wednesday 16 October 2013, 5.15pm to 6.30pm. Beginner strings to Grade 4, woodwind, brass and percussion beginner to Grade 4. No charge for this taster session - just come along with your instrument and the expert teachers from Surrey Arts will show you what to do! Any questions call 07968 832413 or email alison.harding@surreycc.gov.uk

11 October 2013

Dear Parents,

More than two thousand five hundred years ago the Jewish song writer wrote a Psalm which included the words: “Be still and know that I am God”. I just wonder if we take time in our day to be still. I try for three times in the day and have found it can make all the difference. The first is the porridge moment, always on my own, when I mindfully seek to centre myself for the day and acknowledge what thoughts are passing through my mind. I actively still myself before continuing the morning rush.

The second is on arrival at school, I go to my desk open my diary and look at my appointments and responsibilities and pray through them all, telling God that I need his presence to help and guide me through the day and to make all my contact with children, staff, parents and visitors positive and encouraging.

Finally I just take time out at the very end of the day to sum up the day and thank God for being with me all day long.

It’s great being still and a good time to listen to your inner voice of spirit and conscience. A time to hear God’s still, small voice speaking in perhaps unexpected ways. Who or what comes into your mind, what are you going to do about it?

These thoughts came about after spending time with the prayer group last night. I do regard these people as a real “power house” of the school. They actively support the staff and parents as well as their core work of praying for all situations of challenge, change or difficulty in the school. Look out for when they meet and consider joining them, it’s not weird or a secret society, no need to pray aloud if you don’t want to. Just a chance to be still and communicate with God and hear his voice.

So here’s the challenge for your busy weekend – take some time out to be still!

With best wishes, Richard

A Poem by Christopher Parslow 6C:
If I try, I can remember what it was like to be free
To stand as tall as giants, and to see for miles and miles
To house amazing animals and to feel them crawling up my toes
To feel the soft rain streaming down my face
But then, the rain turned sour, the sun beat down
And the only sounds I could hear were the screams of agony from fellow trees.

I saw one of them and their metal beasts
He had a sinister smile on his unfamiliar face
My best friend crashed down with a choked scream and was devoured by them
He was carried away, destroyed and unrecognisable
The sound of the murderous machines filled my terrified mind, and I didn’t dare open my eyes
I felt the once beautiful animals leave me, knowing my fate.

A sickening crackle came from my legs as they were chewed up by the evil contraptions
The world blurred as I tumbled down helplessly
I didn’t know I was screaming until I bit my tongue as I crashed to the distant ground
They surrounded me and cut me into long, lonely beams
The only colour I could see was black, brown and grey as they carried me
Now I’m stacked in a concrete cellar, waiting to be used, or at least seen.

And one from Marley Robinson 6C entitled ‘Flames of Destruction’
The fire in the forest burns my skin
Mountains of embers climbing high
Everyone is scared
The flowers, the animals, the plants
But nothing can escape the fires of doom.

I’m choking, I’m burning!
All is burnt
They’re hacking! They’re hacking my arms!
My pets are dying, my friends are dying
Everything is dying
But I stand still and cry.

I feel helpless, I’m alone
The forest is falling
Everything is dry and the smell of burnt wood
Is choking me.
Clouds are coming, rain’s falling
Loggers leaving, fire’s going out
And peace has returned – for now……

On Thursday, 17th October, Holy Trinity Junior School will be closed for all children. Pewley Down Infant School will be open for all children. This is because a majority of teachers at HT have decided to strike and a majority of teachers at PD have decided not to strike.

Inset Days 23-25 October On Wednesday 23 October
Pewley will finish at 1200 and HT 1215.

Maths Information Evening – Junior on Thursday 21 Nov at 7.00pm
We would like to encourage as many parents as possible to attend the appropriate maths evening. We will be introducing our approach to the teaching and learning of maths, a vital part of our curriculum, as well as explaining our calculation policy. There will also be time for parents to visit their child's year group, find out about mathletics and get useful tips about supporting maths learning at home.

Christmas approaches (I know, I know!) and we have begun our auditions for the Christmas play. Your Year 6 children have been briefed regarding this but FYI and to clear up any misunderstandings held by other year groups... This year the performances will be within house groups and the main parts will be played by Year 6 of that particular house, with other parts being distributed amongst the lower years. WE ARE ONLY AUDITIONING YEAR 6; this is their special time! Keller auditions were held today. On Monday 14th we will be auditioning MANDELA, on Tuesday 15th we will audition NIGHTINGALE and on Wednesday 16th SHACKLETON. Auditions are held at 12.30 in 4S and children can collect/have already collected sample scripts from Sheila - these are to be read through NOT LEARNT! We may also have a bit of a sing and a dance about but our priority this year is character and comic timing!! We are hoping that this new approach will enable more children to play a bigger part in our whole school production. Any queries please contact Sheila by email (sheilam@.....)

Netball
Congratulations to the Year 6 netball team who came 3rd at the GHS netball tournament last Friday out of 18 teams. It was a great testament to their teamwork, determination and love of the game. Well done also to the Year 6 girls who played Tormead this week who won 10-5
and the Year 5 girls who drew 0-0.

Cross-country
We had our first fixture yesterday in the crisp autumnal sunshine at Tillingbourne. Great running all round with four of our girls in the top twelve including Tilly Gough and Isla Miller in 1st and 2nd places and a top ten place for Jamie Higgins.

Clubs
Sorry there will be no Year 5 netball club or tag rugby club on Monday due to other sports commitments.

Biathlon
Good luck to all of our competitors taking part in the biathlon at K2 in Crawley on Sunday.

Guildford Book Festival are offering an exclusive offer to Holy Trinity families of cut price tickets to see Alex Scarrow (author of the "Timeriders" series) on Saturday 19 October and Jim Smith (author of the "Barry Loser" titles) on Sunday 20 October. Tickets are normally £5 each, but to our families they will be £3. This is a fantastic chance to see two of the most popular authors in childrens books. If you are interested then email me and I will arrange with box office. Both events are being held at the Electric Theatre, both are afternoon events. If you want tickets let me know early as I am away that weekend, and will not be able to do anything at the last minute geraldinet@holytrinity.surrey.sch.uk.

Operation Christmas Child
Parents received their information sheet some time ago and we hope that lots of families will be able to prepare a small shoebox of useful items, suitable for a girl or boy, which will be sent to less fortunate children around the world. The deadline for these boxes to be brought into school is Tuesday, 12 November. Thank you in advance for your support.

Holy Trinity School Community (HTSC) PTA News

BINGO NIGHT - 12 October The Bingo Night has now SOLD OUT! Tickets have been given out to your children so please make sure you get them and have the right allocation. Entry is through the Hall Fire Exit Door. Please park in the LOWER School playground – the gates will be open. Don’t forget to bring your tickets with you for the supper and a pen. Would each person attending kindly remember to bring a small, wrapped bingo prize, costing no more than 50 pence – this could be a small toy or something silly (No mankini’s this year please!)

Bonfire Night – 8 November – We need your help For this to be a great success we need help on the evening and the morning after. Below is a list of what help is needed.
• Bonfire Building Friday daytime 5 people
• Setting up From 4pm 5 people
• Entrance Gate From 6pm 4 people per half hour
• BBQ From 5pm 5 people per half hour
• Serving food From 6pm 4 people per half hour
• Serving drinks From 6pm 2 people per half hour
• Saturday Morning From 9.30pm approx 1hour.
If you can help even for half an hour please contact Karen Butler atfc1992@ntlworld.com

Christmas Fair
We need your help We will be holding the Christmas fair kick-off meeting next Wednesday at 2pm in the staff room. Please do come along if you are able to help with the planning and organisation of the fair, there are lots of things you can help with. The more people that help the better. If you would like to involved but can’t make the meeting please contact Caroline Swift caroline@swifts.me.uk

Northbrook Wrapping
Look out for the Northbrook gift wrap brochure that should have come home recently. We will all be buying wrapping paper for Christmas and of course we need birthday paper all year round. If everyone just bought one item through Northbrook we could raise a significant amount of money. Our school will receive 22% cash back on every item sold. As each item is £3.50 we will receive 77p for any product you buy. Please get your orders in to the school office before half term

Xmas Puddings Orders and Competition Please remind your children to get their entries in for the pudding label competition by Wednesday 16th October. To get the early bird discount all pudding orders need to be in by Wednesday 16th October. Please download an entry form and order form here.

Supporting Disability Challengers
Please sponsor me for the Challengers Fun Run at Stoke Park on the 13th October. This is a great local charity that provides play, care and respite for disabled children and teenagers like my brother Alex, so they can have as much fun as they deserve! We both love Challengers and want to help them make more kids happy. This year I am one of the youngest runners at 7 years old and aiming to beat my personal best of 37 minutes - http://www.kellystore.org/guildford-2013/sponsor/joshuaromero.php.

04 October 2013

Dear Parents,

Often the best way of learning something is by doing it. Just as we learn a rule well if we have discovered it for ourselves. Perhaps you will remember tearing the three corners off a triangle, putting them together and it making a straight edge. You thus learnt that the angles of a triangle added up to 180 degrees, or dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter and finding it always came out as just over 3 and so discovered ‘pi’. We enjoy learning by dong and by discovery, though of course it only works a limited number of situations.

Giving at Harvest time is a great British tradition both in schools and churches. Originally, and taken from Old Testament rule, farmers and peasants alike were required to bring a tenth of their crop to the tithe barn for the churches use. Some Christians continue to give a tenth of their income to Christian or charitable causes.

This year we are giving to two important causes for our Harvest offering. It was great to be at Pewley Down this morning and see the great offering as well as finding out who will benefit. Next week it will be the turn of the juniors to bring their gifts as they learn more of the meaning of Harvest.

The two charities are Guildford Action and the combined Charities appeal for Syria. Giving to Guildford Action teaches our children that within our town and locality there are people who are short of food and everyday needs. We learn that we have a personal responsibility to help these people as well as holding our leaders to account about the way we care for the less fortunate. Our gifts of money will go to Syrian refugees, whose plight and suffering is beyond. The children, in turn, learn that out compassion and responsibility extends to all of our worldwide family.

Harvest reminds us of God’s goodness and provision to us, we seek to teach how we can respond to that love by sharing and caring for others.

With best wishes, Richard

Dates for the diary:
Monday, 7th October at 9.30 a.m. in the staff room  Home School Link Worker Coffee Morning
Wednesday, 9th October  Year 5 visit Hampton Court
Thursday, 10th October  Year 3 visit Marwell Zoo
Thursday, 10th October 7.45 – 8.45 p.m.  HTPD School Prayer Group
Friday, 11th October  Harvest Festival Assembly
In which environment do you learn best?
The School Council has been talking to the classes about the best learning environments. For the full report, please see the website or click here. Please discuss this with your child at home and send your comments and suggestions to schoolcouncil@holytrinity.surrey.sch.uk

HT Reading Challenge
Geraldine has launched the exciting HT reading challenge it is available on the ‘library page’ on the school website or you can download it here.
Harvest
Friday 11th October
Year 3/4 Harvest Festival 9am
Year 5/6 Harvest Festival 11am
This year we will be celebrating Harvest Festival in our new chapel. Parents are warmly invited to attend and the children have been asked to bring in gifts of food which will be donated to Guildford Action who work with those in financial difficulty in the town. We are also raising money to send to refugees following the conflict in Syria.
Netball
Our netballers had two great matches this week at Tormead.
The year 6 team won 21-5 displaying great passing and movement skills.
The year 5's put up a good fight against a very good opposition side eventually losing 2-7.

Clubs
We are working hard to provide new opportunities for our Year 3 children.
Just to remind you that Year 3 netball is on Wednesday morning 8-8.30am with Claire on the basketball court.
Also girls football will start this week on Tuesday morning with Nick 8-8-30am on the astroturf.
Unfortunately, the Year 3 volleyball club has only had a couple of attendees so we will no longer be running this club on Wednesdays.

Holy Trinity School Community (HTSC) PTA News

Hi everyone!
Last chance to get your tickets for Bingo night, the deadline is Tuesday 8th October.
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT WITH FISH & CHIPS
We still have some tickets available for the Family Bingo Night on Sat 12th Oct from 6-8pm. If you are new to Holy Trinity School or have never been to the Bingo Night, do please come & join us. It’s always been a very popular & fun school event – Jez Moon is an brilliant Bingo Caller, the children love it, and at approx £25.00 for a family of 4 – it’s a cheap nights family entertainment with supper included.
A bar & soft drinks will be available on the night. All ages are welcome. Tickets on sale now. All tickets to be in by Wed 9th October. Please click on the link download a ticket form.
Phil the Bag
A big thank you to everyone who cleared out their cupboards and brought in old clothes and shoes etc, we had a lot of bags. We will let you know the amount raised once we know.
Dates for the diary
Bingo Night - October - 12th October School Hall
Years 3 & 4 cake sale Thursday 17th October
Bonfire Night - Friday 8th November
Xmas Fair - Friday 29th November
Business Directory
The HTSC Business Directory is now live. You can view it on the HTSC section of the website. This is a new initiative to help to raise funds for the school whilst also helping the parent community to promote their businesses. Any company or sole trader can have their organisation’s name, telephone number, email address and website address mentioned – we are not able to include company logos.

Any parent who currently has or previously had a child at HTPD is eligible to include their details in our directory – for a fee of £15 per school year. Please note, this is a business listing - and the school is not endorsing or recommending any of the businesses listed – but hopefully it will generate work for our parent community.

If you would like your business to be included in the directory, please download and fill out the attached form and leave it, with the payment, at the school office. Any questions, please email Vanessa@wigwampr.com.
Class Reps
We still need class reps in years 3, 4 and 5 please. There are usually two reps per class who provide the vital link between the class & the PTA. The support from this team of volunteers is particularly important when it comes to organising our main events, as the PTA really wouldn’t function without them. We always love to see new faces & hear new ideas, as we know there are new parents coming in, who were involved in their previous school PTA. It is also a great way to find out about the school, how it works and meets other parents. In each Year Group, we aim to have 6 Class Reps - ideally at least 2 per class. The Class Reps in each Year Group work together as a team sharing the Class Rep responsibilities & organising socials for each Year Group as a whole. If you would like to volunteer or would like more information on the role please contact caroline@swifts.me.uk

Class Lists
Please remember to send any updates to the class lists as soon as possible please - HTSC@holytrinity.surrey.sch.uk

Lost: Joshua Butlin in 3N has lost his Shackleton sweatshirt. Please check you have the correct one. Thank you.
Showtime with the Swingles
Presented by Guildford YMCA at GLive, on Sunday 13th October at 7.30pm. Showtime is being put on to help raise funds for the new youth venue at the Y's town-centre hostel in Bridge Street where some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Guildford are cared for. Hosted by Guildford’s Jonathan Veira and featuring the Sensational Swingle singers, the Marvellous Mark Edwards Jazz Quartet, the Tremendous Tenor Richard Coxon, the Glorious GSA singers and the renowned Rock Choir singers. Tickets are £25.00 from GLive http://www.glive.co.uk/ or St Saviours’ Church. For more information, contact Hilary or Andrew Carvell (07753193162).

04 October 2013

Dear Parents,

Often the best way of learning something is by doing it. Just as we learn a rule well if we have discovered it for ourselves. Perhaps you will remember tearing the three corners off a triangle, putting them together and it making a straight edge. You thus learnt that the angles of a triangle added up to 180 degrees, or dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter and finding it always came out as just over 3 and so discovered ‘pi’. We enjoy learning by dong and by discovery, though of course it only works a limited number of situations.

Giving at Harvest time is a great British tradition both in schools and churches. Originally, and taken from Old Testament rule, farmers and peasants alike were required to bring a tenth of their crop to the tithe barn for the churches use. Some Christians continue to give a tenth of their income to Christian or charitable causes.

This year we are giving to two important causes for our Harvest offering. It was great to be at Pewley Down this morning and see the great offering as well as finding out who will benefit. Next week it will be the turn of the juniors to bring their gifts as they learn more of the meaning of Harvest.

The two charities are Guildford Action and the combined Charities appeal for Syria. Giving to Guildford Action teaches our children that within our town and locality there are people who are short of food and everyday needs. We learn that we have a personal responsibility to help these people as well as holding our leaders to account about the way we care for the less fortunate. Our gifts of money will go to Syrian refugees, whose plight and suffering is beyond. The children, in turn, learn that out compassion and responsibility extends to all of our worldwide family.

Harvest reminds us of God’s goodness and provision to us, we seek to teach how we can respond to that love by sharing and caring for others.

With best wishes, Richard

Harvest
Many thanks for your generous harvest donations for the Number 5 project in Guildford and the Syria Crisis Appeal. We will let you know the total raised once the juniors have had their harvest assembly next week.

Year 2 1666 day, Friday 11 October, am
Don’t forget your costumes for the 1666 day next Friday. There are costume ideas in the JTLYK section on the website, but let us know if you have any problems. We would also love to have plenty of parent helpers that morning; please contact your child’s teacher if you can help.
Maths Curriculum Evening, Tuesday 15 October, 7.00pm
A reminder that all parents are invited to the maths curriculum evening which will be held in the hall. This will be an opportunity to find out more about how your child is learning maths in school and to ask any questions you may have.

Fluffy Friday, 18 October
Forms listing activity choices for Fluffy Friday went out to Years 1 and 2 this week. Please return them by Friday 11 October and remember to name the form. Reception year will be doing their own activities in their classrooms.

Photos
You should have received the proof of your child’s recent school photograph earlier this week. Please return order forms to the school office by Friday 11 October.

Year R
Please note that, while the scaffolding remains, Year R children will continue to go home at 2.45pm once they are full time.

Uniform Shop
We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Liz van Eykenhof (Jamie, Beech) who has done a wonderful job running our school uniform shop for quite a number of years. Sarah Williams (Orla, Chestnut and Zac, Hazel) will now be taking over the shop (Wednesdays 8.45 to 9.00 am). If you cannot make this time or need uniform urgently please contact the office.

Gardening help
Another big ‘thank you’ to Adriana Foia (Stefan’s mum in Willow Class) who has kindly given her time to weed and prune the front playground this week. If anyone else is available to help please let Sarah MacKenzie know: sarahm@pewleydown.surrey.sch.uk).
HTPD Prayer Group, Thursday 10 October, 7.45pm-8.45pm, Holy Trinity Chapel
We celebrate the start of the new school year with Richard Rowe – all welcome! If you are unable to come but are interested in learning more about the group, please email emmalaporte@hotmail.com.

FOPS NEWS

We had a great first FOPS meeting of the year on Monday night and we have lots of exciting things planned for this term. So here are a few dates for your diaries.

Christmas Fair Planning Meeting – Monday 14 October 2013 (9am): Our Christmas Fair will be taking place on Sunday 8 December. This is our biggest fundraising event of the year and this year we want it to be even better. We will be holding a planning meeting in the staff room on Monday 14 October after drop off. Anyone interested in getting involved is very welcome. If you are unable to make the meeting but would like to be involved, please e mail Emily Bourke (emilybourke@msn.com) who will keep you in touch with the plans. The raffle at the fair raises a significant amount for the school and we are reliant on donations from local businesses for prizes. If you know of anyone who might be able to donate a prize, please let us know.
The Wild Place Open Days - Thursday 17 October & Sunday 20 October
Your children probably tell you about their exciting visits to the Wild Place but have you ever seen it? We are inviting you to visit the Wild Place on Thursday 17 October (9am - 12pm) or Sunday 20 October (1pm to 4pm) and see it for yourself. There is a catch ..... please bring your garden shears or strimmer. We are having an autumn clear up. In order that our children can get the most out of this amazing resource we need to do a little tidying and cutting back and many hands will make light work. If it is pouring with rain, we will have to postpone.

Phil the Bag Collection - Wednesday 6 November
If you are clearing out your wardrobe this half term, please donate your unwanted clothes, shoes, bags and textiles to our Phil the Bag Collection on Wednesday 6 November. The school receives commission for every kilo collected and the clothes and textiles are then sold on and distributed to people who can use and enjoy them in developing countries, which at the same time saves our environment from the burden of further resources going to landfill.

School Disco - Saturday 16 NovemberWe're very excited to announce the return of the Family School Disco from 5.30pm to 8pm on Saturday 16 November 2013 in the School Hall. Whether it is your first school disco or the first in a long time, this is guaranteed fun, Gangnam style, for all the family. Tickets will go on sale after half term.

DJ Wanted: If you fancy yourself as a DJ, we are looking for a volunteer to man the i pod on the night. All applications to emilybourke@msn.com.

Autumn Term Cake Sale Dates: The playground cake sale dates are as follows. Your class reps will provide you with more information.
Friday 11 October - Beech
Tuesday 22 October - Childrens' Cake Sale - Year 2
Friday 8 November - Oak
Friday 22 November - Year 1
Northbrook Gift Wrap: Northbrook swatches have been sent home tonight in book bags. If you have not received one & would like one please text Becca Clegg on 07796 780042 or email becca.clegg@ntlworld.com. Buying Northbrook items gives you the opportunity of fundraising for the school as well as buying beautiful wrap & cards. They seem to be selling cosmetics too this year & there is a catalogue at Reception for anyone interested. Every item purchased at £3.50 provides 77p for the school. Please get order forms back to the school office anytime before half term.

Lost: Harry Norris has misplaced 2 Shackleton sweatshirts (both named).
Freddie Kay has lost his black Under Armour top at football on Thursday 26 September.
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